Fan mounting system

Abstract

A fan ( 10 ) is disclosed having a base ( 11 ) and a protective housing ( 12 ) encasing an electric motor ( 13 ) and a blade assembly ( 14 ). The base has two pivot mounts ( 21 ) to which a front support leg ( 22 ) and a rear support leg ( 23 ) are mounted. Each leg includes a mounting flange ( 24 ). The pivot mounts allow the pivotal movement of the protective housing relative to the pivot mounts and about horizontal axis AA. The base also includes a ceiling mount portion ( 28 ) which is mounted to the ceiling C. The ceiling mount portion includes a mounting plate ( 32 ), a rod ( 33 ), and a cup-shaped coupler ( 34 ). The coupler has an annular groove ( 35 ) therein adapted to receive the mounting flanges. The coupler is configured to allow the flanges to be rotated while nested within the groove, thereby allowing pivotal movement of the fan about the rod and about vertical axis AB.

1. A fan comprising,
 a motor; 
 an annular array of blades mounted to said motor; 
 a protective housing surrounding said annular array of blades; 
 a leg assembly configured to support said motor, said annular array of blades and said protective housing in use upon a horizontal support surface, said leg assembly having a pair of pivot mounts coupled to opposite sides of said protective housing and two legs pivotally coupled to said pivot mounts, said legs being capable of pivoting between a first position adjacent one another and a second position spread apart from one another, each said leg extending between said pair of pivot mounts and having a mounting flange; and 
 a mount including a coupler adapted to be coupled to said mounting flanges and wherein said coupler has an annular groove adapted to receive said mounting flanges. 
 
     
     
       2. The fan of  claim 1  wherein said annular groove includes detents and said mounting flanges are configured to cooperate with said detents. 
     
     
       3. The tan of  claim 1  wherein said coupler allows pivotal rotation of said housing about a first axis of rotation. 
     
     
       4. The fan of  claim 3  wherein said leg assembly is pivotally coupled to said protective housing to allow pivotal rotation of said housing about a second axis of rotation. 
     
     
       5. The fan of  claim 4  wherein said first axis of rotation is oriented generally normal to said second axis of rotation. 
     
     
       6. A fan comprising,
 a motor; 
 an annular array of blades mounted to said motor; 
 a protective housing surrounding said annular array of blades; 
 a leg assembly pivotally coupled to said protective housing to enable said fan to be supported in use upon an underlying surface, said leg assembly adapted to provide rotation of said protective housing about a first axis of rotation; 
 a mount adapted to be pivotally coupled to said leg assembly for rotation of said protective housing about a second axis of rotation oriented generally normal to said first axis of rotation during use of the fan, wherein said mount includes a coupler and said leg assembly includes at least one leg having a mounting flange adapted to receive within said coupler to provide rotational movement about said second axis of rotation, wherein said coupler has an annular groove adapted to receive said mounting flange and wherein said annular groove includes detents and said mounting flange is configured to cooperate with said detents. 
 
     
     
       7. A fan comprising,
 a motor; 
 a blade assembly coupled to said motor; 
 a protective housing surrounding said blade assembly; 
 a supporting leg assembly having a pair of pivot mounts coupled to opposite sides of said protective housing and two legs pivotally coupled to said pivot mounts, said legs being capable of pivoting between a first position adjacent one another and a second position spread apart from one another, each said leg extending between said pair of pivot mounts and having a mounting flange, said leg assembly being coupled to said protective housing to allow pivotal motion of said protective housing about a generally horizontal axis of rotation; and 
 a mount coupleable to said leg assembly to allow operative pivotal motion of said leg assembly and said housing about a generally vertical axis of rotation during use. 
 
     
     
       8. The fan of  claim 7  wherein said mount includes a coupler and said leg mounting flanges adapted to receive within said coupler to provide rotational movement about said vertical axis of rotation. 
     
     
       9. The fan of  claim 8  wherein said coupler has an annular groove adapted to receive said mounting flanges. 
     
     
       10. The fan of  claim 9  wherein said annular groove includes detents and said mounting flanges are configured to cooperate wish said detents.